Wolf makes education top priority

With the general election just months away, it’s not too early to ask this question: Are public schools and educators better off now than they were four years ago?

For most, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” And that’s why PSEA wants Gov. Tom Wolf to spend another four years in the governor’s office.

“When we recommend candidates, we look at where they stand on issues that make a difference for our schools, our students, and our members,” said PSEA Vice President Rich Askey. “That’s why we support Gov. Wolf. He’s made public education his top priority, and he’s delivered.”

Askey pointed to Wolf’s accomplishments: reversing nearly $1 billion in school funding cuts, signing a bill that protects PSEA members’ pensions, reducing the length of standardized tests in grades three through eight by an average of 20 percent, and asking PSEA members to help him write Pennsylvania’s plan to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

“Tom Wolf has been a friend to public education from day one,” Askey said. “Whether he’s fighting for school funding, reducing standardized testing, or just listening to PSEA members like us, he’s put public schools front and center – and he’ll keep doing that in his second term.”

Askey warned that PSEA members shouldn’t take Wolf’s re-election for granted. Despite Wolf’s successes, the race will be competitive, and public education issues could decide it – one way or the other.

“Are we better off now than we were four years ago?” he asked. “The answer is clearly ‘yes.’ Now, we need to get ready to vote to make sure that we continue this progress – and make sure that we don’t lose everything we’ve gained in the past four years. That’s why we need to vote for Tom Wolf.”